Jailed Hong Kong activist Wong found guilty of contempt of

By PTI |
Published: 13th October 2017 02:40 PM |

Last Updated: 13th October 2017 02:45 PM | A+A A- |

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Hong Kong, Oct 13 (AFP) Jailed Hong Kong activist Joshua
Wong spent his 21st birthday in court today where he was found
guilty of contempt for obstructing the clearance of a major
encampment during the city's 2014 mass Umbrella rallies.

Wong, who had already pleaded guilty to the charge, and
19 other activists were all found guilty, but the judge, who
is also handling the corruption trial of the city's ex-leader
Donald Tsang, did not set a date for sentencing.

According to a defence lawyer, there is no maximum
penalty for contempt of court but other activists previously
sentenced on contempt charges have received punishments of up
to three-months.

Supporters in and outside the courtroom sang "Happy
Birthday" prompting the 21-year-old Wong to smile and thank
them.

Wong and two other student leaders were jailed in August
for six to eight months for their roles in the initial protest
that sparked the months-long Umbrella Movement demonstrations
and street blockades in 2014, convictions rights groups have
called politically motivated.

Joshua Wong's father Roger Wong earlier told AFP he was
surprised by the prison term and shocked by the reaction of
Hong Kong's legal community, with two powerful organisations
releasing statements defending the judicial system and judges.

"The elites in law were congratulating each other. I find
that disgusting," he said.

"I thought the statements would come with comprehensive
legal analysis, but there was none of that... just brown-
nosing," he added.

The elder Wong, a retired IT professional, and his wife
have been visiting their son in prison, and say he is putting
on a brave face.

"If I was in his position, in front of my parents, I
would say positive things too and not want them to worry,"
said Wong, 53, speaking to AFP at the family's compact
apartment filled with photos, books and printed bible verses.

"I think the biggest pain for him is not being able to go
on the internet," he said.

Unlike most middle-class parents in education-obsessed
Hong Kong, Wong senior said he was open-minded about his son's
studies and future path -- they always knew he was politically
minded.

When he was small, "he would have a bottle in his mouth
but still continue to speak. Of course, we didn't know what he
was saying... (but) he always enjoyed expressing himself,"
Wong said.

"His academic record would not be good enough for Oxford
or Cambridge, but they have invited him over as a speaker --
it's just a different role," he said.

Roger Wong has recently become active in his staunch
anti-LGBT campaigning, which is a point of tension in the
family as his son's political party Demosisto supports
legalising same-sex marriage.

But he said he would still have supported his son's
political career if he ran for office. Wong's prison term now
bars him from running for the next five years.

As Beijing and local authorities tighten the screws on
political activism in the semi-autonomous city, Wong says he
is not worried about this difficult path his son has chosen --
he just wants him to stay strong.

"I hope he will keep his innocent heart to do what is
right, and remain happy," Wong senior said.

"Some things don't show their results immediately, but
you can persist." (AFP)
CPS
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This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.